Slub catcher



Oct. 11, 1955 A. L. BURNET ET AL SLUB CATCHER Filed April 14, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1.

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g1 INVENTORS 33 firiiurl.flzzrnef Eznerir] h boafs BY 4 M? MM ATTORNEYSOct. '11, 1955 'A. BURNET ETAL 2,720,019

SLUB CATCHER Filed April 14, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent SLUB CATCHER Arthur L. Burnet and Herbert J. Woods,Greensboro,

N. C., assignors to Burlington Industries, Inc., a corporation ofDelaware Application April 14, 1953, Serial No. 348,681

6 Claims. (CI. 2864) This invention relates to textile apparatus,particularly to a slub catcher of improved design.

In the manufacture of yarn from fibers of any type, defects may beintroduced by any or all of the processes involved. Such defects usuallytake the form of heavy places in the yarn, or slubs, which areobjectionable in subsequent weaving processes and detract from thequality of finished cloth. Since it is virtually impossible to removesuch defects from woven cloth, it is desirable to remove the slubs fromsingle yarn, preferably before winding, and such is common practice inyarn manufacture.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a slub catcher ofdurable and simplified design, adapted to detect a slub in yarn passingtherethrough and sever the yarn immediately before the slub, to preventits passage into subsequent operations. Another object is to provide aslub catcher actuated solely by yarn movement. A related object is toprovide a slub catcher assisted in its action by magnetic means, so thatoperation once actuated is eifected positively and quickly.

A further object is to provide a sensitive slub catcher of outstandingsensitivity, and a related object is to provide a slub catcher of finelyadjustable sensitivity.

A further object is to provide a sensitive slub catcher utilizing aslatch means an adjustably positioned and variable magnetic field. Stillanother object is to provide a sensitive slub catcher utilizing distinctand opposed magnetic fields as latch means. Further objects will be inpart obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention and the novel features thereof may best be made clear fromthe following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention, mounted in a conventional slub catcher frame;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 showingdetails of the slub detecting and severing mechanism, and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in Figures 1 and 2 is shown aconventional slub catcher frame 10, comprising substantially parallelside members 11 and 12 which are upwardly curved at their left hand endsas shown and joined at their opposite ends by a transverse gate member13. From side member 11 extends a resilient arm 14, hearing at its outerend an upper gate memer 15, which is substantially parallel to gatemember 13 and adjustably spaced therefrom by an adjustment screw 16.

Between the side members is formed asupport 17 for a thread guide 18,and a socket 19 adapted for reception of a post 20. Adjacent gate member13 a thread guide rod 21 is mounted in side member 11 and extendstransversely across the frame. A mounting post 22 projects upwardly fromarm 14 adjacent the upper gate member 15, and a heavy lug 23 extendsdownwardly from side member 11, the lug being bored at 24 for mountingon a conventional spooler or winding machine, not shown, in the wellknown manner.

The novel mechanism of this invention is adapted to be mounted insidepost 22 and comprises, as best shown in Figures 3 and 4, a generallyU-shaped body 25 including a base leg 26, adapted to be detachablysecured to post 22 as by bolt 27. A set screw 28 may be provided in post22 to lock bolt 27 against vibration and the like.

An anvil 29, preferably chrome plated, extends outwardly from base leg26, adjacent and substantially parallel to the lower gate member 13 ofthe frame. From the opposite end of base leg 26 extends a support arm30, parallel to the anvil as shown. Immediately inside the support arm,base leg 26 is drilled at 31 for reception of a pivot pin 32, formed atits opposite end into a handle 33, and the outer end of support arm 30is formed into a fork 34 extending inwardly toward the anvil, andadapted to receive and retain the outer end of the pivot pin.

A rigid blade 35 is pivotally mounted on pin 32 by means of bearing cars36 extending outwardly therefrom. The outer edge of the blade, adjacentanvil 29, is formed into a cutting edge 37. A latch element 38 mayextend from the blade, conveniently at an acute angle thereto as shown,in substantial parallelism to the bearing element 39 which extendslaterally from support arm 30.

A magnet such as bar magnet 40 is partially enclosed by a collar 42,which is externally threaded. The magnet is adjustably positioned withinthe collar, conveniently by means of set screw 43 incorporated in theknurled collar flange 44. The magnet and collar are threadably engagedto the threaded opening 45 of bearing element 39, so that they may beadjustably positioned relative to the bearing, and a lock nut 46 isprovided to fix the relative position of the collar when adjusted asdesired.

A further latch element 47 may extend from the blade, desirably inopposed position with respect to latch element 38. A bearing element 48extends laterally from support arm 3%, in opposite direction relative tothe bearing elemen 39, and in substantial parallelism to latch element47. The bearing element 48 supports a bar magnet 49, adjustably mountedin a manner corresponding exactly to that of bar magnet 40. That is, barmagnet 49 is partially enclosed by a collar 42, adjustably positionedtherewithin by means of the set screw 43. The magnet and collar arethreadably engaged to the threaded opening 45 of bearing element 48, anda lock nut 46 is provided to fix the relative position of the collarwhen adjusted.

A set screw 50 is provided in arm 30 to lock the inner end of pivot pin32 within drilled opening 31, and a similar set screw 51 is incorporatedin the outer end of arm 30 to limit the entry of pin 32 into the fork34.

Operation of the device will now be described in detail. A length ofyarn 52 may be drawn through guide 18, through a customaryshock-absorbing tensioning device (not shown) mounted on post 20, andthence under guide rod 21, over anvil 29 and out between gate members 13and 15 to a winder or similar device. As best illustrated in Figure 3,the edge 37 of blade 35 is normally maintained slightly spaced fromanvil 29, so that the yarn may pass freely therebetween, although aheavy place or slub 53 in the yarn will unavoidably encounter and engagethe blade edge. A slub 53, as will be readily understood, will tend todisplace the blade and elfect pivotal swinging movement thereof aboutthe axis of pivot pin 32, moving the blade before it until the bladecomes into contact with the anvil, the final position of the slub andblade being illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 3. In this position,the blade will cut or otherwise sever the yarn immediately prior to theslub.

The blade is maintained in normally spaced relationship relative toanvil 29, and pivoted movement of the blade is resisted by the field ofmagnet 40 acting on the blade latch 38. The magnet 40 normally holds thelatch against the adjacent end of its collar 42, and it will berecognized that the magnet 40 exerts its greatest force upon the latch38 in that position, that is, when the latch is at its closest permittedapproach point relative to the magnet 40. Atthe same time, of course,the magnet 49 exerts force upon the latch 47, tending to move the bladeinto contact with the anvil. When the latch 38 is at its closestpermitted approach position relative to magnet 40, however, the latch 47is a relatively great distance with respect to the magnet 49, so thatthe magnet 49 exerts upon latch 47 a relatively weak force insufficientto overbalance the effect of magnet 40.

When a slub initially encounters the blade edge in normally spacedposition as described in the foregoing and illustrated in Figure 3, thecombined efiect of the magnets is to produce the greatest resistance tomovement of the blade in the direction of the anvil. A slub ofsufiicient size to initially displace the blade is thereafter subjectedto diminishing resistance to blade movement, since as soon as the latch38 is separated from its associated collar 42 the holding force of thefield of magnet 40 rapidly decreases, while the attractive force of thefield of magnet 49 concurrently increases with the approach of latch 47thereto. As the blade is progressively displaced, not only does theresistance to blade movement decrease, but at an intermediate point theattractive force of magnet 49 on its latch element 47 overbalances theattractive force of magnet 40 on its latch 38, so that the magnet 49thereafter assists and positively assures the remaining movement of theblade to final yarn severing position, in contact with the anvil 29. Themagnet 49 not only assists in moving the blade to final yarn severingposition, but also materially speeds up the blade movement, therebyeffecting a positive and rapid closing of the blade on the anvil in thenature of a snap action. In this way, waste which might result from aslower closing of the blade is precluded. By these expedients iseffected a slub catcher of outstanding sensitivity, in that every slublarge enough to initially displace the blade will in every case causeSet screw 50 insures retention of the inner end of pivot pin 32 andfixes its position relative to the anvil. The outer end of the pivot pinis frictionally retained within fork 34, and set screw 51 furnishes aconvenient adjustment to limit the entry of the pivot pin into the fork,whereby the pivot pin may be adjusted to effect exact parallelismbetween the knife edge and the anvil.

When the devicejoperates to sever a yarn at a slubbed place, an operatormay remove the slubbed yarn end and return the blade to normal latchedposition, as shown in solid lines in Figure 3. The severed yarn end willnormally be held within the slub catcher by a tensioning device on post20. Slub removed, the yarn may be again threaded between the blade andanvil and connected to the winder or other mechanism utilized to drawthe thread. It will be readily understood from the foregoing that inorder to adapt the device for heavier yarn or reduce its sensitivity toslubs, the collar 42 of magnet 40 may be screwed out through element 39and then looked in new position to provide a greater normal spacingbetween blade edge and anvil. Conversely, to adjust the device forthinner yarn or increase its slub sensitivity, thecollar 42 would bemoved inwardly relative to bearing 39. To more finely adjust for slubsensitivity, the position of the magnets 40 and 49 within their collars42 may be altered. Approach of the magnet 40 to the stop end of itscollar 42 will decrease sensitivity, and the sensitivity of the devicemay be increased by increasing the distance between the end of magnet 40and the associated collar end. Also, approach of magnet 49 to the stopend of its collar will correspondingly increase the sensitivity of thedevice, whereas retreat of magnet 49 from the stop end of its collarwill decrease sensitivity. The dual adjustments make possible anextremely fine overall adjustment of sensitivity, in spite of the widerange of sensitivities inherent in the device.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention astructure in which the various objects severing of the yarn, and willnot pass through the device due to further resistance encountered indisplacing the blade to final yarn severing position. Similarly, theperformance of the new device has been found to be exceedingly uniformin passing or rejecting slubs of varying size and texture.

The sensitivity of the device may also be finely adjusted over a widerange. The magnets, it will be understood, do not normally extend to theends of their collars 42, but are slightly withdrawn therewithin. Thus,the collars 42 act as stops limiting the approach of the latches to themagnets, and also limiting the magnetic force which each magnet mayexert on the associated latch. For this purpose, the collars areconstructed preferably of nonmagnetic material, such as brass orplastic. By varying the position of each magnet within its collar, usinga set screw 43 to fix the desired relative position, the latching effectof each magnet may be finely adjusted. Also, the collars themselves maybe threadably adjusted within the hearing elements 39 and 48, andsecured at desired position by lock nuts 46, so that the stop positionsof the latches and the blade may be finely adjusted. In this manner, byadjusting the collar or magnet 49, the normal spacing between the bladeedge and the anvil may be varied in accordance with the type of yarnbeing run, the size of slub to be rejected, or other factors. Similarly,by adjust ment of the collar of magnet 49 within bearing element 48, theapproach position of the knife edge to the anvil may be adjusted. Thisexpedient has been found to greatly prolong the life of the knife edge.It will be obvious that the magnets and their collars may be operativelyassociated with the blade otherwise than in the specific mannerillustrated.

hereinbefore set forth, together with many practical advantages, aresuccessfully achieved. As various possible embodiments may be made ofindividual features of the invention, all without departing from thescope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore setforth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted asillustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A slub catcher comprising an anvil across which a traveling yarn isdrawn, a blade pivotally mounted on an axis spaced from and parallel tosaid anvil whereby the cutting edge of said blade may swing in thedirection of yarn travel into contact with said anvil, said bladeincluding latch portions, magnetic means disposed adjacent one latchportion to normally maintain the cutting edge of said blade spaced fromsaid anvil, and distinct magnetic means disposed adjacent another latchportion of said blade to impel the cutting edge of said blade intocontact with said anvil when the blade is displaced relative to thefirst-named magnetic means.

2. A slub catcher comprising an anvil across which a traveling yarn isdrawn, a pivot pin mounted adjacent said anvil, adjustable means formaintaining said pivot pin in parallelism relative to said anvil, ablade pivotally mounted on said pin so that its cutting edge may swingin the direction of yarn travel into contact with said anvil, magneticmeans efiective to normally maintain the cutting edge of said bladespaced from said anvil, and distinct magnetic means to impel the cuttingedge of said blade into contact with said anvil when the blade isdisplaced relative to the first-named magnetic means.

3. A slub catcher comprising an anvil across which a traveling yarn isdrawn, a blade mounted on an axis spaced from and parallel to said anvilwhereby the cutting edge of said blade may swing in the direction ofyarn travel into contact with said anvil, said blade including a latchportion, magnetic means disposed adjacent said latch portion to normallymaintain the cutting edge of said blade spaced from said anvil, andadjustable means to vary the magnetic force of said magnetic means onsaid latch portion.

4. A slub catcher comprising an anvil across which a traveling yarn isdrawn, a blade mounted on an axis spaced from and parallel to said anvilwhereby the cutting edge of said blade may swing in the direction ofyarn travel into contact with said anvil, said blade including latchportions, magnetic means disposed adjacent one latch portion to normallymaintain the cutting edge of said blade spaced from said anvil, distinctmagnetic means disposed adjacent another latch portion of said blade toimpel the cutting edge of said blade into contact with said anvil whenthe blade is displaced relative to the first-named magnetic means, andadjustable means to vary the magnetic effect of each of said magneticmeans on the latch portion adjacent thereto.

5. A slub catcher comprising an anvil across which a traveling yarn isdrawn, a blade pivotally mounted on an axis spaced from and parallel tosaid anvil whereby the cutting edge of said blade may swing in thedirection of yarn travel into contact with said anvil, a latch memberextending outwardly from said blade, a magnet disposed adjacent saidlatch member to normally maintain the cutting edge of said blade spacedfrom said anvil, a collar enclosing the end of said magnet adjacent saidlatch member to limit the approach of said latch member to said magnet,means for adjustably positioning said magnet within said collar, andmeans for adjustably positioning said collar, whereby the normal spacingbetween the cutting edge of said blade and said anvil may be varied.

6. A slub catcher comprising an anvil across which a traveling yarn isdrawn, a blade pivotally mounted on an axis spaced from and parallel tosaid anvil whereby the cutting edge of said blade may swing in thedirection of yarn travel into contact with said anvil, opposed latchmembers extending outwardly from said blade, a first magnet disposedadjacent one of said latch members to normally maintain the cutting edgeof said blade spaced from said anvil, a second magnet disposed adjacentthe other of said latch members to impel the cutting edge of said bladeinto contact with said anvil when the blade is displaced relative tosaid first magnet, a collar enclosing the end of each magnet adjacentthe corresponding latch member to limit the approach of the latch memberto the magnet, means for adjusting each magnet within the associatedcollar, and means for adjustably positioning each of said collars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS836,137 Parker Nov. 20, 1906 2,115,532 McKean Apr. 26, 1938 2,289,980Marcellus July 14, 1942 2,327,840 Brown Aug. 24, 1943

